Heiwa Heaven The Resort

This massive fort-palace complex built in hybrid Hindu-Muslim style dates back to Raja Man Singh and was the royal palace of the Kachwahas from c. 1600-1727. It's one of six UNESCO World Heritage forts in Rajasthan. The name has nothing to do with the rather pretty pastel yellow colour; instead, the fort is named after the area of Amber, in turn named after the goddess Amba.

A palace adorned with thousands on thousands of mirror tiles on the walls and ceiling.

Never conquered in battle, this was considered the strongest of the three forts in the area. It is best-known as the site of the world's largest cannon, the Jaivana, which was test-fired only once — according to legend, despite using only the half the design amount of gunpowder, the cannonball flew 35 km! A better reason to visit the fort, though, are the scenic gardens at the other end and the spectacular views over the Amber Fort and the hills around. The remains of the foundry where the Jaivana (and many more) were cast are also in the fort grounds. There are multiple boards with "no tips allowed," in case someone is bothering you.

The smallest of the three forts, notable primarily for excellent views over Man Sagar lake and the vast sprawl of Jaipur. Built in 1734 by the Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in a mix of Indian and European styles, the fort also houses the (relatively) compact Madhavendra Bhawan palace, although its former splendour is fading under layers of graffiti and pigeon droppings. Some of the film Rang De Basanti were shot at this fort. To get to the area where the "Pathshala" song was shot, take a left turn as soon as you enter the fort. An autorickshaw can be taken from the stand in front of the Amber fort. The fort also houses the Jaipur's Wax Museum and Sheesh Mahal, although tickets for these have to be bought separately and are ridiculously expensive. Beware if buying the Wax Museum and Sheesh Mahal combo ticket, you'll be paraded through the largely unimpressive museum and then be told to queue for the Sheesh Mahal which can last from 30 minutes to 2 hours.